| I have observed that Christopher Hodgkin's remonstrations are inane, poisonous to young minds, and disrespectful to Western values and achievements. So let's begin, quite properly, with a brief look at the historical development of the problem, of its attempted solutions, and of the eternal argument about it. He is always prating about how the cure for evil is more evil. (He used to say that he is beyond reproach, but the evidence is too contrary, so he's given up on that score.) The real question here is not, "How can someone who claims to be so educated and so open-minded dare to bowdlerize all unfavorable descriptions of his actions?". The real question is rather, "Why can't we all just get along?" I don't pretend to know the answer, but I do know that his attempts to take rights away from individuals on the basis of prejudice, myth, irrational belief, inaccurate information, and outright falsehood are much worse than mere absenteeism. They are hurtful, malicious, almost criminal behavior and deserve nothing less than our collective condemnation. Even as I write those words, I can feel Hodgkin cringe. That's okay. Cringe. I don't care, because he can be so illiterate, it would take your breath away. As a parting thought, remember that a great many decent people are distressed about Christopher Hodgkin's obsession. |
